Local and state investigators have ruled the death of a 27-year-old Absarokee man found near his home early Sunday morning a homicide. Forest Dana was found deceased outside early Sunday in alley by family members roughly two blocks from his home, according to the Stillwater County Sheriff's Office.

A 911 call was placed to authorities at 7:18 a.m. for a medical emergency in Absarokee, according to dispatch records. The coroner was summoned to the scene near South Woodard Avenue at 8:11 a.m. An autopsy was performed Monday morning, at which time the apparent cause of death was ruled to be blunt force trauma.

The sheriff's office, as well as the Montana Department of Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating the death as a homicide, according to the press release issued late Monday afternoon.

No further information was released. Investigators ask anyone with information to contact the sheriff's office at 322-5326. Dana was a 2004 graduate of the Absarokee High School.

The population of Absarokee more than doubled this past weekend with the annual Absarokee Days and an All-Class Reunion held simultaneously.